2018 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program details

Program History & Overview

The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP), now in its 15th year, is the nation’s largest program aimed at reducing cigarette litter. Since its inception, this Keep America Beautiful program has been implemented in more than 1,700 U.S. communities. In Denton, CLPP program funding has already been implemented twice, resulting in the KDB ash receptacles you see in Downtown Denton and the Fry Street Area and effective outreach efforts that resulted in an annual trend of 40% less litter in the aforementioned commercial zones.

By providing people with easily accessible information and educational tools, as well as funding for ash receptacles and the distribution of pocket or portable ashtrays, Keep America Beautiful is making strides in educating the public and ensuring a cleaner tomorrow. And now, Denton has received a third grant ($5000) to pursue our vision of a litter-free community.

Campaign Goals

Unite anti-litter partners in Denton to research and defend local, implementable solutions.

* Recycle 1 million cigarette butts in a year

* Identify the Top 10 cigarette litter “hot spots” in Denton

* Hand out 2400+ CLPP bumper stickers and decals

* Give away 1200+ portable ash trays

* Host 5 or more cigarette litter prevention workshops

* Reduce annual cigarette litter in scan locations by 40%

How are we going to accomplish them?

INFRASTRUCTURE: Permanent ash receptacles will be placed in Denton parks at strategic locations to discourage cigarette litter in public places. The City of Denton Parks Department has graciously offered to help install and maintain the new receptacles.

SCRAP Denton has kindly donated supplies and instructions for a unique CLPP-themed DIY series: Create Your Own Butt Bucket Workshops. Check out the example pails conjured by SCRAP’s own creative champ, Jeanna, (here). We hope that by providing an opportunity for students and service industry employees to create their own FREE cigarette butt buckets for their properties, we will be giving Denton residents what they need to make responsible disposal decisions.

Additionally, we plan to purchase two Ballot Bins for use at outdoor public events such as the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival and KDB’s annual events to encourage proper cigarette butt disposal methods through a “vote with your butt” activity.

EDUCATION: Voertman’s College Store and BackYard on Bell have stepped up to host the Butt Bucket workshops this summer for the Fry Street area and Downtown Denton service industry employees, where KDB will gather feedback on community-led solutions for cigarette waste from those most affected by the issue.

Similar workshops will take place at UNT and TWU this Fall.

KDB will include 10-Minute “Litter Lectures” by City department representatives at the quarterly litter scans to provide our volunteers with an awareness of the issue and their impact. Representatives from City of Denton Sustainability, Watershed Protection, and Community Improvement Services will frame the issue of cigarette litter from their respective specialties in hopes of spreading the word on the myriad of impacts that cigarette litter has on our local environment.

OUTREACH: You might do a double-take when you see our new signage promoting KDB’s campaign, and if you happen upon our new CLPP tent please stop by for litter-related giveaways and information on how you can be part of the solution.

Local businesses have received auto and pocket ash trays, anti-litter bumper stickers and window decals to give out to their patrons, and additionally may request use of our BallotBins for special events. We are looking into how the City’s smoking ban would affect placing additional permanent ash receptacles at businesses if the problem persists in our commercial zones, and will announce results and next steps at a results party hosted by Denton County Brewing Company next May.

Be sure to check out our website and social media pages for spotlights on our program partners as well as the dTV Newsbreak featuring our Kick-off Celebration.

A peek at our calendar…

o Butt Bucket workshops:

o Fry St: Monday, June 18 (1-2pm)

o Downtown Denton: Tuesday, August 7 (1-2pm)

o UNT: Thursday, August 30 (12-1pm)

o TWU: Wednesday, November 14 (12-1pm)

o Results Party: Friday, May 10, 2019 (5-7pm)

Open to 18 and UP Denton residents with a focus on service industry employees and students

o Quarterly scans (VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY)

o Friday in June or July TBD – Quakertown Park

o 9/7 – Quakertown Park

o 12/7 – Fred Moore Park

o 3/8/19 – North Lakes Park

o 5/1/19 – Quakertown Park

* All opportunities will be from 2-4pm; volunteers must be able to lift, bend, and record numbers * Open to 18 and UP Denton residents; register to volunteer by contacting volunteer@kdb.org

* KDB cannot offer court-appointed service hours at this time

o Results mixer – Friday, May 10th, 2019 from 5-7pm at Denton County Brewing Company

Ways to get involved:

Attend the above events, share information with friends, research proper disposal of all waste (or consult with City) and – of course – support KDB programming!